BMW i8 launched in India

Plus, a look at the other electric and hybrid cars that have us buzzed to a whole new level

Tank up? What’s that. We love that this breed of next-gen wheels are propelled by hybrid and electric power mills that don’t compromise on performance specs. Petrolheads, you now don’t need to burn it up to have a good time.

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BMW i8

The BMW hybrid sportscar is one of the world’s most hyped machines and with good reason. Here’s a review of what it’s like to actually drive one. This afternoon, BMW launched it in India. As this piece of high-tech kit will convince you, hybrid need no longer mean dull. Its 1,500cc engine generates 362hp that can propel this ride from 0-100kph in 4.4 seconds. There’s such a degree of well-conceived gadgetry about this car, that we were even happy to award the i8’s key fob, an innocuous bit that’s an afterthought for other manufacturers, in our first-ever GQ Car Awards in December last year. The hybrid powertrain returns an average of 47.45kpl. That won’t likely amount to much of a saving when you realize that you’ll have to drop Rs2.29crore to buy this ride.

We love: The smart fob has a high resolution LCD screen that displays not only how much charge is left in your electric supercar but how far that charge will get you.

Sachin Tendulkar with the BMW i8 at the car launch

The beauty that is the BMW i8

A rear view of the BMW i8

Ferrari La Ferrari & McLaren P1

From specs to on-board systems, the Ferrari La Ferrari and the McLaren P1 are perhaps the most closely matched hypercars out there. Consider, for example: the La Ferrari puts out a total of 950hp (of which 161 is electric), while the P1 puts out 903hp (of which 176 is electric). Both are stuffed with a numbing array of control systems, too, including stability control, active aerodynamics and other F1-inspired goodies that make these ultra-exclusive crafts a blast to drive.

We love: Their sheer power.

McLaren P1

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid

In addition to a 333hp 3-litre supercharged V6 petrol engine, it also packs in a dinky little 46hp electric motor to add an extra kick, when necessary. This SUV has a respectable 0-100kph time of 6.5 seconds for when you need to put pedal to metal. And for when you’re simply pottering around the neighbourhood, it can cruise on pure electric power at speeds of up to 60kph.

We love: That it happily ticks that green box, but is still a Porsche Cayenne at heart.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric

It’s the most powerful car in the Mercedes-Benz line-up, and yet it’s also deathly quiet. The Electric takes the oomph of the venerable SLS AMG and swaps the petrol engine out for a 60 kWh battery pack and electric motors that put out a mind-bending 751 horses. Each wheel gets its own motor and, coupled with AMG Torque Dynamics, delivers precise control and power. It takes 20 hours to charge, giving you 250km. But the kicker? Even at high speeds, it’s so quiet that the 11-speaker audio system actually generates appropriate ambient sounds to keep the driver from succumbing to that deafening silence.

Tesla Model S

When Elon Musk revealed his electric luxury car, he didn’t just throw a new plug-in into the fray – he turned the entire car industry on its head. Every bit of his Tesla Model S is from the future: It’s got an 85 kWh battery pack that delivers a range of up to 426km, puts out a beefy 416hp from an AC induction motor power plant and sprints from 0-100kph in 5.6 seconds. Inside, you get an all-glass experience featuring a 17-inch touchscreen that lets you do everything from control communications to adjust cabin temperature. Heck, Tesla even offers you a phone app to access some of the car’s systems. This here – without a shadow of doubt – is a geek’s wet dream.

We love: That it’s a Tesla

Toyota Camry Hybrid

With the Camry Hybrid, Toyota brings its popular, environmentally friendly Hybrid Synergy Drive system – which debuted in the Prius in 1997 – to its larger cars. The Camry Hybrid has an almost equally balanced petrol/electric power split, with 158hp coming from traditional fuel and 141hp coming from an electric motor. At speeds of up to 40kph, you can go all-electric. Which means, happily, zero fuel costs and zero emissions when you’re in tree-hugger mode.

We love: The affordable Rs30 lakh sticker price and the proven hybrid technology